Lookalike gangland slayings
Underworld chiefs both gunned down on Cape roads
They were both allegedly strong personalities, ruling sections of the underworld and even working together at one stage.
Today they are both dead, murdered in an eerily similar fashion.
On Monday night, controversial businessman Cyril Beeka's BMW X5 was riddled with bullets on Modderdam Road, in Bellville, Cape Town.
In 2007, gunmen opened fire on Yuri Ulianitski, who was driving a luxury vehicle after celebrating his birthday at a restaurant in Milnerton, Cape Town.
Ulianitski's widow, Irina Ulianitskaya, said yesterday that she hoped Beeka's murderers would be brought to book.
"But unfortunately, no progress has been made on my husband's murder.
"It is very strange that there are no suspects, no arrests, no nothing," said Ulianitskaya.
She said she did not know Beeka but was shocked by his murder. "Their murders seem similar."
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said the Ulianitski murder investigation "continues" but no arrests have been made.
Ulianitski, known as "Yuri the Russian", was one of Cape Town's most feared underworld figures. He was linked to club protection rackets, rigging horse races, prostitution, debt collection and gambling.
Beeka, 49, was a courier company executive and was once linked to a nightclub protection racket.
On Monday night, Beeka's brother, Daniel, told The Times that he was at the V&A Waterfront when he heard the news.
"My brother was on his way to visit me in Glenhaven," said Daniel Beeka.
"I rushed here from the Waterfront. I thought by the time I got to the scene he would still be alive."
Beeka died on the scene. His driver was airlifted to the Vincent Pallotti Hospital.
One message of condolence came from Moe Shaik, head of the South African Secret Service and brother of convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik. News of Beeka's friendship with Moe Shaik made headlines in 2007 when Beeka accompanied Shaik to the ANC's national conference in Polokwane.
Shaik refused to speak of their friendship but read a prepared statement to The Times.
"I am deeply saddened by his death. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family, especially his wife and young children," he said.
Reports had linked Beeka to controversial businessman Mark Lifman, but Lifman denied this, saying: "I wasn't acquainted with him, I knew of him. I know nothing about his murder. I just arrived from Hong Kong and read about it."
Ulianitskaya said her husband and Lifman were business associates. She dragged Lifman to court to fight for her husband's share of the assets.
Lifman said yesterday the matter was nearing conclusion.
Police spokesman, Captain Joe Wilson said Beeka's driver was in a stable condition. He would not release the driver's name and said he was not under police protection.
"We usually place people under police guard in hospital only if they have committed a crime," he said.
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